Medical marijuana in treatment - Research Paper Example

Target Population The study is targeting all citizens both the youth and adults. This is because the ingredient from marijuana is used as a drug not only to a specific ethnic group, age, race, and gender, but to all people. Marijuana has received attention for medicinal purposes in the past decades. The ingredient, which is active in marijuana, is from a class of compounds known as cannabinoids. The ingredient is used in treating numerous conditions like loss of appetite associated with AIDS therapy, induced nausea and PMS and insomnia to chemotherapy. Recently, cannabinoids are seen as being effective against motor disturbances on patients with double sclerosis. These points lead to the potential use of marijuana in treating migration problems in Huntingo’s Disease. Although there are physiological and biochemical effects of marijuana, more beneficial ways through discussions and scientific research on the roles of the drug have been mired in political and social controversy (Swartz 4). Soon medical marijuana will be legal in almost 18 states, although its policies are conflicting with the federal government drug laws. Strict limitations have been placed by current federal stance on using marijuana in biomedical research. Article Content The study was conducted for a period of three months between 1/13/ 2013 to 3/16/2013. According to several researches conducted in California, citizens have been allowed to use marijuana for treatment purposes, which are recognised under Compassionate Use Act 1996. Drug Enforcement Administration is against any legitimate use of medical marijuana and does not recognise it. Because of this some counties in California are held accountable to the state for implementing laws of medical marijuana as passed by legislative and voter initiative actions. Most public social service programs and county governments have recognized qualified patients on using marijuana as a legal right. Some public agencies providing substance abuse treatment have the authorization to use marijuana in the course of their treatment. Several studies have connected the use of cannabis to anxiety, psychosis, depression, social outcomes, and schizophrenia. The medical marijuana loosened the rules and restrictions regarding the use of marijuana. A well-known example of the strategy is California’s Proposition 215, a ballot measure protecting physicians and patients from state prosecutions. After realising, the success of this reverberations and referendum across American culture and law provided an overview of challenges and benefits state and local level reform face (Swartz 7). Even before passing of Proposition 215, treatment-using marijuana had been supported by various groups and regions within and across California. In 1991, lawmakers were urged to make marijuana available for medical uses by voters of San Francisco who supported Proposition. California’s elected officials were similarly inclined, and they approved laws in 1995 and 1994, which recognised the importance of medical marijuana. Despite the fact that the public supported the legislation, Governor Pete Wilson voted for both actions, which are consistent with legislation and the measures against the use of Marijuana. When Dennis Peron recognised the limitations which emerged on attempting to reform through the legislature, he spearheaded the legalization of marijuana through bringing this issue directly to the voters in 1996 election. This process of the referendum is a legacy for a progressive period and at the same time, a period designated to bolster direct democracy. The research projects conducted were limited because the group members were picked by persons working in the treatment section and not by official documentation. An expansion in data collection is needed for better results as experiments of marijuana use in California continue. The sample size can be increased by involving more counties at the highest level of engagement. When medical marijuana is used properly, patients will be able to avoid using sleeping pills, tranquilizers, opiates, and other antidepressant medicines. Such implications, researchers have argued, due to anxiety and depression disorders will make the patients wear down like no other diseases. This will affect the conditions as the patient loses interest to participate in all activities that would make recovery possible. Marijuana has a positive impact in such cases, as the patient will take interest in some activities, which will assist to slowly recover. The medical benefit of marijuana is to eliminate depression as mentioned in Marijuana Medical Handbook. Marijuana does not produce Serotonin, but it produces soothing feeling which will react with THC present in marijuana and it affects anandamide present in the brain. It is recommended to use antidepressants under medical prescriptions rather than use an illegal substance, which may lead to increased depression causing schizophrenia overtime. The advocates of medical marijuana have recommended its effectiveness in treatment as a key rationale for legalization. The research conducted in 1970s showed that marijuana and its component (THC) are very important in reducing intraocular pressure. When the public interest on marijuana increased, it made American Glaucoma society issue a statement which recognized that marijuana reduces intraocular pressure and later lowering the progression and risk of damage. The statement was also very strong on the concerns regarding marijuana’s short time of action and mood of changing effects. The research conducted shows that 1 dose of marijuana is capable of reducing IOP for even 3 to 4 hours. Conclusion In every essential outcome category, medical marijuana users feel equal to those who are not using marijuana as a treatment. Extensive researches should be carried out to ascertain that marijuana can be used as a treatment. It worked according to the researchers, but the sample size used was too small compared to the entire population. In addition, marijuana has some effects in individual lives. This made some researchers support both sides on the use of marijuana. They supported marijuana to be used as a treatment and admitted that it has some effects like anxiety, psychosis, depression, and social outcomes on lives. The federal government is fighting against these effects. Work Cited Swartz, Ronald. Medical marijuana users in substance abuse treatment. Harm Reduction Journal. 2010, Vol. 7, p1-9. 9p. Read More